Plan for summer 2007

Girls Inc. has openings at 8-week summer camp

Girls Inc. still has some openings left for St. Louis area girls in its 8-week summer camp sessions. Summer camp runs five days a week, starting June 11 and running through August 3.

The camp is open to girls in ages from pre-school to high school.

The pre-school camp is for girls 4 and 5 years of age. A Pioneer camp is for girls 6 through 12 years. Then, the Teen Leadership Program is for girls 13 through 18.

Girls in the Teen Leadership program also serve as mentors to younger kids. This offers a hands-on leadership component to regular camp sessions.

The local Girls Inc. organization has been offering after-school programs since 1981. Over 12,000 girls participate annually in activities that help to develop the skills and determination needed to achieve future success.

Victoria Nelson is the executive director of Girls Inc. She said the girls-only enrollment offers young women a chance to develop personal skills without worrying how they look or what car their family drives.

She said the programs are "to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold."

The kids take classes or participate in activities that develop personal strengths and abilities. They learn discipline, self-control and determination. The staff wants to help the girls learn how to take risks and master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges.

Summer camp programs are an extension of regular after-school activities and programs during the regular school year.

(To enroll in a summer camp session, visit www.girlsinc.org or call (314) 385-8088. Be sure to ask about tuition fees. The fees cover two meals a day five days a week.)

Girls Inc. has outstanding facilities for its after-school and summer programs. The organization has taken over the former Ascension-St. Paul School at 3801 Nelson Drive in Normandy. The Ascension parish closed the school and sold it to Girls Inc.

The school provides not only classrooms but also laboratory and computer rooms. There is a gymnasium and dance floor in addition to extensive outdoor play areas.

Summer camp classes have a wide variety. The kids take part in sports, dance, drama, art, business, science, fashion, music, health and computers. There are swimming activities at a nearby pool.

For instance, in Project Business, kids learn the basic concepts of business and economics. Girls run their own businesses as a real-life simulation. They also see how business influences their daily lives.

In science classes, the girls investigate and explore while having fun. Again there are plenty of hands-on experiences. Subject areas include the earth and physical and life sciences. There are also opportunities to learn teamwork in solving science problems.

In drama sessions, girls get opportunities to fill on-stage and behind-the-scenes positions.

In the fashion classes, girls learn to master the fundamentals of sewing. But, they also learn about elements of fashion, style and design as well as about fabrics and finishes.

Ms. Nelson said about 100 openings remain for the summer camp. Total attendance is expected to be about 450.

She said girls from anywhere in the St. Louis metro area are invited to enroll, including girls from Illinois.

The Teen Leader internship program includes a small group of teenagers who study a variety of "world of work" subjects. The goal is to acquaint the teens with the wide variety of possible careers available to women.

Subjects include finance, housing, consumerism, careers, relationships, civic responsibility and interpersonal skills. They also learn how to prepare for college and develop a job resume.

Also, the teens help other staff members working with younger kids. They work in the classrooms, in the offices and with food service.

(Young Saint Louis.com provides information about other after-school and summer opportunities by linking to the Happenings4Youth website (www.happenings4youth.org). Girls Inc. is just one of dozens of worthwhile after-school activities listed. Access the site through the Resources icon at the top of the YSL.com home page.)